10 Things We Wish Guys Knew About Sexting

Sexting is one of life’s great guilty pleasures—it’s naughty, a little dangerous, and can be really fun. That is, until there’s a giant (or not-so-giant) unsolicited dick pic front and center, making you regret getting iPhone 6 Plus.

Though the Williams Shakespeares of sexting are out there, most guys just don’t get it.

Here’s a list of tips for the latter:

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1. This shouldn’t be our first sexual interaction. Do not sext someone that you literally just met. If we haven’t actually had sex, it's definitely too soon to troll for naked pics. And any grown-ass woman knows that if you’re only willing to make a move via text, you’re probably pretty lame in person.

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2. Don’t come in too hot. Subtlety is key. The last thing we want when we're peacefully sipping a cup of tea is a text that reads, “I wanna f*ck your brains out.” This leaves us asking, "Wait, did I miss something?" A simple “I can’t stop thinking about you” will do just fine.

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3. Be more original. We aren’t asking you to reinvent the wheel, but put in a little effort. Few things are less sexy than a generic, “What are you wearing?” mass text at 2 a.m. Hard pass, bro.

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4. Watch your mouth. Some women love dirty talk, some don’t. The key is to find out what you're working with before you start sprinkling four letter words like magical fairy dust. This rule goes double for sexting because you can't really blame a slipup on being “in the moment.” A sext is about as contrived and premeditated as you can get.

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5. Don’t be pushy about pics. If we want to send the nudes, we will send the nudes. Stop. Asking. Sending dirty pics is risky business, so it’s completely warranted and understandable that not everyone wants to trade them like Pokemon.

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6. Speaking of photos, no unsolicited dick pics, please. No woman wants this. OK, maaaybe a small minority do. But it’s best for you to bank on your girl being the rule, not the exception. Penises are a very aggressive piece of anatomy, and magnifying it with an up-close, flash-on portrait is terrifying.

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7. We’re probs using this time to multi-task. While dudes might have one-track minds, we're able to send a sext anytime, anywhere. So when we say we’re touching ourselves and thinking about seeing you later, we might be walking into a meeting, at the grocery store, or doing laundry. (If you are sexting from bed, take it up a notch with these products from the Women's Health Boutique.)

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8. Your sexts might not just be between us. This, of course, depends on your behavior. Are you a loving, long-term partner who behaves like a normal human? OK, your sexts are most likely safe. However if you’re some dude we just met and are sending weird-ass stuff (or weird stuff about your ass), your sexts are public domain.

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9. Less is more. Keep it simple, homie. Your sexts should not read like an NBA play-by-play or a textbook chapter on the female anatomy. Sexting, like sex, is about an exchange between two people. So allow room for dialogue.

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10. Have fun with it. Why so serious? Sex can be awkward and hilarious—as can sexting. (Are you drawing the parallels yet?) You don’t have to be Casanova 24/7, so don’t forget to be playful.

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